The policy addresses an ongoing SBC debate. Baptistshave championed alcohol abstinence since the late 1800s, but a growing
number want the SBC to reexamine the issue, said Timothy George, dean
of Beeson Divinity School.

"There is growing
discontent, people saying that we shouldn't be mandating things that
aren't spoken clearly about in Scripture," George said. "It's hard to
argue that the Bible requires total abstinence."